In Conversation With….”Ray Bibbles Bawel” By Chris Durka

that read The 1957 the game was played eventually decided “The Trip- in at between the to penalize Win- per”. Funny Hamilton Tiger-Cats coached by nipeg and place though, Ray and the Blue Bombers coached by the ball half the told me that . The final score in that game was distance to the Humphrey 32 to 7 in favour of the Tiger-Cats, however goal line from the still never if it wasn’t the blow-out that the score point in which apologized depicted. Bawel had hit for tripping Winnipeg’s offensive stats were better the ground even him but than Hamilton’s but it was the Ti-Cat defence though there was instead took that made the big and timely plays that a good possibility credit for it day. The defence stopped the Blue Bombers that he would have scored a touchdown. and stated at least four times inside their red zone When David Humphrey was interviewed he that he was preventing Winnipeg from scoring any points. simply stated that he thought that it would responsible One of the defensive be funny. for making Ray famous because if it wasn’t stars in that game was an At the end of the day Ray Bibbles for that trip, no one today would have individual by the name of Bawel was the defensive star with two pass remembered Ray Bibbles Bawel. (David Ray Bawel better known , two fumble recoveries and a Humphrey passed away only a couple years as “Bibbles Bawel”. Ray defensive touchdown. ago.) wore number 72 and This past January I had the distinct I asked Ray how he got his nickname he had an outstanding pleasure of talking to Ray Bawel. He is 83 Bibbles Bawel and he told me that it game. He picked up a years of age now and resides in Indiana originated quite innocently from a college fumble in the first quarter with his wife Mary-Anne. We talked about a basketball team-mate of his one day during of the game and returned it 55 yards for number of things particularly how he ended practice and stuck ever since. a touchdown. He also recovered another up in Hamilton to play for the Tiger-Cats. He It was truly good luck that Ray Bawel Winnipeg fumble inside the Tiger-Cat 10 yard said that half way through the 1957 football accepted coach Trimble’s invitation to come line and intercepted a pass in the Tiger-Cat season coach Trimble requested his services to Hamilton and play the remainder of the end zone; in both cases ending Winnipeg’s to help out the defensive secondary which 1957 season because if it hadn’t been for his scoring drives. was riddled with injuries. Bawel and Trimble timely interceptions and fumble recoveries However, what he is best remembered had a history together in Philadelphia with the final outcome of the ‘57 Grey Cup may for is the infamous “Bibbles Bawel” trip. In the NFL Eagles. Bawel agreed to come up to have completely different. The Cats could the fourth quarter of that 1957 Grey Cup play for Hamilton but only for the remainder have used Bibbles Bawel for the ‘58 and game #72 picked up his second of the season and he was true to his word ‘59 Grey Cups because he was a player that of the game and was running in full stride because after the Grey Cup he retired from always seemed to be in the right place at and in the clear along the side lines when football and returned to Indiana. the right time except for the time when he it happened…someone standing close to While up here he and his wife rented a was tripped. the Winnipeg bench stuck out their foot and furnished house in Dundas and said that they tripped him. still have many fond memories of their stay Initially it was thought that one of the in Canada. CHRIS DURKA Winnipeg players had tripped Bawel but it They both never forgot about the turned out to be a spectator by the name of infamous trip nor did the tripper himself Chris is a long-time Tiger-Cat fan, David Humphrey, a Toronto lawyer who was forget because a few years ago Ray said season ticket holder, historian and the culprit. that David Humphrey, who was a retired collector of Tiger-Cat memorabilia Never the less, all hell broke loose with Judge, invited Ray and his wife to spend and autographs. Over the years, both teams storming that area of the field. a weekend with him as his guests. They Chris has had the honour to speak The referees had to improvise on how to accepted his invitation and Ray said that with many Tiger-Cat players whom solve the dilemma because there were no they had a great time. Humphrey also gave he now recalls in conversation. direct rules for that type of situation. They Ray a gold watch with an inscription on it